Key-holding device



April 5,1927. 1,623,224

. c. E. YALE KEY HOLDING DEVICE Filed April 25, 1926 Patented Apr.5,1927.

- mum of longevity,

CHARLES YALE, OF SANTA MONICA, CALIFORIiTIA.

KEY-HOLDING pEvIcE.

Application med April 23, 1926. Serial No. 104,045.

This invention pertains to an improved and novel key case or holder,especially designed for the pur ose of retaining a plurality ofkeyswithin the case,

The prime object of the invention is to provide a novel, simple,economical, durable and practical keyholder or case which elim- -inatesallknobs or projections of any kind to catch in the clothing, and may bereadily manufactured at a minimum cost.

Another object of" the invention is to so construct the novel devicethat a plurality of keys may be secured and retained within a casing,said casing having means for projecting the keys so that the'particularone desired may be conveniently selected for use.

Further objects of the invention are to so construct the improved casingthat all of the keys are retained therein when not in use; so that thekey holder can be readily carried within the vest pocket, or any otherpocket of apparel; so that means is connected therewith for projectingall of the keys outwardly from within the case in advance of each otherin order to easily select the key de-.

sired; so that the said key holder will have a smooth, pleasing and neatappearance, and of such material that possesses the maxi- Theforegoingiand such other objects as may appear from the ensuingdescription are attained by the construction, arrangement, location andcombination of the several parts hereinafter more fully described,

illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointedout in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that slightchanges in the precise form, pro portions and minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specificatior it willbe seen Figure 1 is an elevation of the novel key holding means embodyinmy invention.

Figure 2 is a sectiona elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation showing the keys projected beyond oneedge of the case with one key slightly in advance of another.

Figure 4 is a top plan view looking. into the case, and

Figures 5, 6 and 7 are details of the key projecting and retaining meansremoved from the case.

In the embodiment of my invention it will be seen that the numeral 1designates the front portion, 2 the rear portion, and 3 the side portionof a key holding case, composed of any suitable or desirable metal,preferably formed with a rectangular shaped bottom portion 4, andpreferably with a rounded upper end (portion 5, said case being closedat one si e 3 thereof the major portion of its length, and entirely openat its opposite side 4.

is formed with a beveled portion 8 at one edge thereof, a laterallyextended flange 9 at its lower end provided with a plurality of steps ornotches 10 adapted to receive the rear edge of each of the said keys,each key normally resting in contact with one of the.

notches or steps when the keys arewithin the case in the positionsubstantially as shown 1n Fig. 2, and slightl above the lower end of themember 7 it is slitted transversely at 11 forming an inwardly. extendedleaf spring portion 12 which is adapted to resiliently contact with theouter face of the rear key Within the casing and by the tension againstthe keys to always retain the keys within the case, and prevent theiraccidental movement beyond the casing from any cause whatever, while atthe upper right hand side of the member 7 is formed ;a laterallyextended bent portion 13 which rests in alignment with the outer edge ofthe front and rear portion of the casing so that there is no knob orprojection extending at any point beyond the casing to have a tendencyto wear or tear the clothing or to catch or hang in the pocket oftheapparel, said bent portion being so disposed between the front andrearof the casing that by simply pressing it lll pressure will cause themember 7 to swing sidewise outwardly on its pivotal point 14, therebyforcing the keys to assume the position shown in Fig. 3 beyond thecasing, with one key in advance of another, so that the key desired maybe easily and readily selected and used, after which the keys arepressed inwardly by the hand or fingers and caused to assume theposition shown in Fig. 2 within the casing, and retained therein by themeans hereinbefore described, at the same time imparting an inwardlysidewise swinging movement to the member 7, thus causing the bentportion 13 to return to its upper and normal operative position, such ascleagly shown in Fig. 2.

It Wlll be readily obvious that by this construction of key holdingmeans the keys may be easily and readily manipulated; that the device isinexpensive to manufacture; that it may be made of any suitable materialand so ornamented as to possess an attractive and pleasing appearanceand that it will possess unusual durability and longevity.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1. A key holding device comprising a casing, aplurality of keys disposed within the casing, and swinging means forprojecting all of the keys sidewise beyond the casing and to retain thekeys under tension within the casing.

2. A key holding device comprising a casing, a plurality of keyspivotally disposed within the casing, and a pivoted swinging memberadapted to force all of the keys side: wise beyond the casing and toretain all the keys under tension within the casing.

3. A key holder of the character described, comprising a casing, aplurality of keys pivotally disposed within said casing, and meanstransversely disposed within the casing for forcing all of the keyssidewise beyond the casing andto retain the keys within the casing undertension. 4. A key holder of the character described, comprising acasing, a plurality of keys pivotally disposed within the casing, apivoted swinging member for forcing all the keys sidewise beyond thecasing, .and means disposed transversely within the casing for operatingthe swinging member by downward pressure of a finger.

5. A key holding device of the character described, comprising a casingopen at one side, a plurality of keys pivotally disposed within saidcasing, a swinging member resting in contact with each of said keys andadapted to force the keys sidewise beyond the open side of the casing bydownward pressure upon a portion of said member.

6. A key holdingdevice of the character described, comprising a casinghaving a plurality of keys pivotally disposed therein, a pivotedswinging member having a lateral notched extension at its lower endagainst which each key is seated, and a lateral extension forming a partof said member disposed within the casing adapted to swing said memberand keys outwardly by the downward pressure of a finger.

7. A key holding device of the character described, comprising a casinghaving a plurality of keys pivotally disposed therein, a pivotedswinging member adapted to move all-of the keys sidewise beyond thecasing, said member being formed with a lateral notched extension at itslower end, a lateral extension at its upper end portion, and an inwardlyextended resilient portion, intermediate its upper and lower ends.

8. A key holding device of thecharacter described, comprising a 'casing,a plurality of keys pivotally disposed within the casing, a pivotedswinging member for forcing the keys sidewise from the casing, saidswinging member being formed with a lateral notched extension at itslower end,'an intermediate resilient portion, a beveled portion near itsupper end, a transversely disposed portion at its upper end within thecasing adapted to swing said member sidewise and outwardly by downwardpressure of a finger, and a stop formedby one side of the casing forlimiting the downward movement of said transverse portion.

. CHARLES E. YALE.

